Phone having emergency call function with securely receiving incoming call

ABSTRACT

When a crew of a vehicle runs into a traffic accident or suffers sudden illness, a control circuit of a phone device in the vehicle releases prohibition of outputting an incoming ring in memory to set a ring volume to the maximum. Even if the incoming ring is previously set being prohibited from outputting while the driving, the incoming ring is thereby outputted at the maximum volume from a ringer when an incoming call is received after the emergency occurs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on and incorporates herein by referenceJapanese Patent Application No. 2002-140617 filed on May 15, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a phone having an emergency callfunction that notifies an emergency call addressee of an emergencystate. In particular, the phone is capable of securely receiving anincoming call from the emergency call addressee.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A vehicle phone device having an emergency call function isproposed as described in Japanese patent of JP-B2-P3142262. When anemergency state occurs, the emergency call function notifies theemergency center, which is previously registered, of the emergency stateby automatically calling in the emergency call center.

[0004] Thereby a crew of a vehicle can rapidly notify the emergency callcenter when a traffic accident occurs or sudden illness is suffered.According to the notice from the vehicle, the emergency call center asksa fire station for sending an ambulance together with notifying a familyof the crew that the emergency state is occurs.

[0005] There is a case where the vehicle phone is previously set beingprohibited from outputting an incoming ring for avoiding receiving anincoming call during the driving. Thereby, after communication with theemergency center is shut off, the vehicle phone continues to beprohibited from outputting the incoming ring. Even if the family wishesto call to the vehicle phone to inquire after the crew, the crew cannotrecognize the incoming call due to no ring of the incoming call.

[0006] After the traffic accident occurs, the crew may not manipulaterelease of prohibiting the incoming ring due to being physicallydisabled after the accident even if the crew wishes to do so. Otherwise,the crew may forget to release prohibiting the incoming ring due tobeing confused after the accident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a phonehaving an emergency call function with securely receiving an incomingcall when an emergency state occurs.

[0008] To achieve the above object, a phone having an emergency callfunction is provided with the following. A ring volume of an incomingring is set to a certain volume level for notifying a user of anincoming call. Occurrence of an emergency state is determined. Anemergency call is executed to an emergency call addressee that ispreviously appointed when occurring of the emergency state isdetermined. The ring volume is changed to set from the certain volumelevel to a given volume level that is louder than the certain volumelevel when occurring of the emergency state is determined.

[0009] It is preferable that a ring volume manipulation signal thatindicates the given volume level to be set is received from theemergency call addressee when occurring of the emergency state isdetermined.

[0010] It is furthermore preferable that the output of the incoming ringis prohibited before occurrence of the emergency state is determined andthen release of prohibiting of the output of the incoming ring ispermitted when occurring of the emergency state is determined while theoutput of the incoming ring is prohibited at least one of twoconditions,

[0011] wherein a first condition is that a predetermined period elapsesfrom the occurring of the emergency state is determined and a secondcondition is that a ring permission signal that indicates permitting theoutputting of the incoming ring is received from the emergency calladdressee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an emergency call system accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a structural block diagram of a vehicle phone device ofthe emergency call system according to the first embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a flowchart diagram explaining first processing of acontrol circuit of the vehicle phone device according to the firstembodiment;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram explaining second processing of thecontrol circuit of the vehicle phone device according to the firstembodiment;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a schematic view explaining operation of the emergencycall system according to the first embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram explaining processing of a controlcircuit of a vehicle phone device of an emergency call system accordingto a second embodiment; and

[0019]FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram explaining processing of a phone ofa service center of the emergency call system according to the secondembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] (First Embodiment)

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, an emergency call system relating to avehicle phone device having an emergency call function as an embodimentof the present invention is explained below.

[0022] When a crew of a vehicle runs into a traffic accident or sufferssudden illness (A in FIG. 1), a vehicle phone device 10 mounted in thevehicle calls in a service center 100 of the emergency call system. Thevehicle phone device 10 thereby notifies (B in FIG. 1) an operator ofthe service center 100 of an emergency state through a base station 130of a cell phone network and a public service network 140. The servicecenter 100 provides with an intermediate service based on contracts withthe crew and a provider of the cell phone network.

[0023] The operator of the service center 100 asks a police or a firestation (C in FIG. 1) for emergency assistance (D in FIG. 1) using aphone via the public service network 140, and notifies (C in FIG. 1)home of the crew of the emergency state of the crew via the publicservice network 140.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, structure of the vehicle phone device 10will be explained below.

[0025] The vehicle phone device 10 includes a phone electronic controlunit (ECU) 10 a, a manipulation switch 30, an emergency call switch 31,a GPS antenna 40, a speaker 50, a microphone 60, a ringer 51, and anantenna 70. The phone ECU 10 a includes an audio processing circuit 11,a wireless circuit 12, a GPS receiving circuit 13, a manipulationdetection circuit 14, an airbag spreading detection circuit 15, avehicle control interface (IF) circuit 16, a control circuit 17, and amemory 18.

[0026] The wireless circuit 12 receives a downlink communication signalfrom the base station 130 of the cell phone network through the antenna70, while it generates to transmit an uplink communication signalthrough the antenna 70 by modulating a transmission signal.

[0027] The audio processing circuit 11 converts a reception signalreceived in the wireless circuit 12 from digital to analog to output areceiving voice via the speaker 50. It also converts a transmissionvoice via the microphone 60 from analog to digital to generate atransmission signal. It furthermore generates an incoming ring fornotifying the crew of an incoming call via the ringer 51.

[0028] The GPS receiving circuit 13 obtains a current position of thevehicle based on satellite signals received from GPS satellites via theGPS antenna 40. The manipulation detection circuit 14 detects amanipulation signal outputted from the manipulation switch 30 or theemergency call switch 31. The manipulation switch 30 includes variouskeys (not shown) as follows: a call start key for calling in oraccepting the incoming call; a stop key for stopping a call; a ringerprohibition key for prohibiting the incoming ring; and a release key forreleasing the prohibition of the incoming ring. The manipulation switch30 also includes a ring volume key for switching a ring volume to low,intermediate, or high level. The emergency call switch 31 is manipulatedby the crew when the emergency state such as sudden illness of the crewoccurs.

[0029] The airbag spreading detection circuit 15 detects a spreadingsignal indicating spreading of an airbag by an airbag device 20. Thevehicle control IF circuit 16 transmits a control signal to in-vehicledevices (not shown) such as a door-lock control device, a light controldevice, and a horn control device.

[0030] The control circuit 17 is provided with a microcomputer digitalsignal processor to execute processing for notifying the service center100 at the emergency state through communication between the wirelesscircuit 12 and the base station 130. The control circuit 17 alsoexecutes processing at the emergency state for allowing to output theincoming ring and setting the ring volume of the incoming ring to themaximum as described later.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, processing of the control circuit 17of the vehicle phone device 10 according to the first embodiment will beexplained. Here the processing is periodically executed during a waitingstate.

[0032] At Step 200, whether the ringer prohibition key of themanipulation switch 30 is manipulated by the crew is determined. Whenthe ringer prohibition key is manipulated, outputting of the incomingring is prohibited. The manipulation of the ringer prohibition key isdetected based on an output signal from the manipulation detectionswitch 14. When the ringer prohibition key is determined to bemanipulated, prohibition of outputting the incoming ring is thereby setin the memory 18 at Step 210.

[0033] At Step 220, whether the release key of the manipulation switch30 is manipulated by the crew is determined. When the release key ismanipulated, the prohibition of outputting the incoming ring isreleased. The manipulation of the release key is detected based on anoutput signal from the manipulation detection switch 14. When therelease key is determined to be manipulated, prohibition of outputtingthe incoming ring is thereby released in the memory 18 at Step 230.

[0034] At Step 240, whether the ring volume key of the manipulationswitch 30 is manipulated by the crew is determined. When the ring volumekey is manipulated, the ring volume to be outputted is switched. Themanipulation of the release key is detected based on an output signalfrom the manipulation detection switch 14. When the ring volume key isdetermined to be manipulated, the ring volume of outputting the incomingring is thereby switched to set in the memory 18 a setting levelmanipulated by the crew at Step 250.

[0035] At Step 260, whether an incoming signal from the base station 130is received through the wireless circuit 12 is determined. When theincoming signal is determined to be received, whether the prohibition ofoutputting the incoming ring is set in the memory 18 is determined atStep 270. When the prohibition of outputting the incoming ring isdetermined to be not set in the memory 18, the setting level of the ringvolume that is set by the crew is read out from the memory 18. Theincoming ring is outputted at the setting level from the ringer 51 atStep 280.

[0036] As the crew manipulates for accepting the incoming call throughthe call start key of the manipulation switch 30, an off-hook signal istransmitted from the wireless circuit 12 to the base station 130 toconnect through a phone line with an opponent party. As a downlinkcommunication signal from the opponent party is received through thebase station 130 by the wireless circuit 12, a receiving voice isoutputted from the speaker 60 by the audio processing circuit 11 basedon the downlink communication signal. As a transmitting voice isinputted through the microphone 60, an uplink communication signal istransmitted by the wireless circuit 12 through the base station 130based on the transmitting voice at Step 290.

[0037] The crew can thereby have a hands-free call with the opponentparty using the speaker 50 and the microphone 60. As the crewmanipulates for stopping the call through the stop key of themanipulation switch 30, a call stop signal is transmitted from thewireless circuit 12 to the base station 130 at Step 300. The phone linewith the opponent part is thereby terminated. At Step 270, when theprohibition of outputting the incoming ring is determined to be set inthe memory 18, the incoming ring is not outputted from the ringer 51.Here, a voice mail center 140 (shown in FIG. 5) in the cell phonenetwork automatically transmits to the opponent party a message of aneffect that the crew is not ready for accepting the incoming call.

[0038] As explained above, the vehicle phone device 10 is utilized basedon the manipulation by the crew in a normal state. The incoming ring isoutputted at the manipulated setting level of the ring volume so thatthe crew can have a hands-free call during the driving. Outputting ofthe incoming ring from the ringer 51 is prohibited so that the crew canbe concentrated on the driving.

[0039] By contrast, a case where an emergency state occurs is explainedreferring to FIG. 4. At Step 310, whether the emergency state occursdetermined. The emergency state is determined based on spreading of anairbag or manipulation of the emergency call switch 31. The spreading ofthe airbag is determined based on an output signal from the airbagspreading detection circuit 15 when the airbag is spread by the airbagdevice 20 due to a collision accident. The emergency call switch 31 ismanipulated, for instance, when the crew that suffers the sudden illnesswants an emergency call.

[0040] Here, when outputting of the incoming ring is prohibited in thememory 18 before the emergency state is determined, release of theprohibition of outputting the incoming ring is set in the memory 18 atStep 330. When the outputting of the incoming ring is set to beavailable, the setting is retained with newly setting the ring volume tothe maximum at Step 330.

[0041] For instance, when the ring volume of outputting the incomingring is set to “low” or “intermediate,” the ring volume is newly set to“high” in the memory 18 at Step 330. When the ring volume of outputtingthe incoming ring is set to “high,” the ring volume continues to be setto “high” in the memory 18 at Step 330.

[0042] As the ring volume is set to “high,” processing for calling inthe service center 100 based on a registered phone number stored in thememory 18 is executed at Step 340. A calling signal is therebytransmitted from the wireless circuit 12 to the base station 130 toconnect through the phone line with the service center 100.

[0043] As a transmitting voice is inputted through the microphone 60, anuplink communication signal is transmitted by the wireless circuit 12 tothe service center 100 through the base station 130 and the publicservice network 140 based on the transmitting voice. As a downlinkcommunication signal from the service center 100 is received through thebase station 130 and the public service network 140 by the wirelesscircuit 12, a receiving voice is outputted from the speaker 60 by theaudio processing circuit 11 based on the downlink communication signal.These are executed at processing at Step 350.

[0044] The crew can thereby have a hands-free call for the emergencycall with the operator of the service center 100 using the speaker 50and the microphone 60. In addition, a current position of the vehicleobtained from the GPS receiving circuit 13 can be properly transmittedas an accident spot to the service center 100.

[0045] When the crew thereafter manipulates for stopping the callthrough the stop key of the manipulation switch 30, a call stop signalis transmitted from the wireless circuit 12 to the base station 130 andthe phone line with the service center 100 is shut off.

[0046] The crew can thereby have the hands-free call for the emergencycall with the operator of the service center 100. The operator of theservice center 100 asks the police or the fire station for the emergencyassistance, and notifies home of the crew of the emergency state of thecrew.

[0047] When the family of the crew calls from a phone at home 120 to thevehicle phone device 10 to inquire after the crew, an incoming signal (Fin FIG. 5) is transmitted to the vehicle phone device 10 through thepublic service network 140 and the base station 130 to start thefollowing processing.

[0048] The incoming signal is determined to be received at Step 260, andthe prohibition of outputting the incoming ring is determined to be notset in the memory 18 at Step 270. The setting level “high” of the ringvolume that is set at Step 330 is read out from the memory 18. Theincoming ring is outputted at the setting level “high” from the ringer51 at Step 280.

[0049] As explained above, when the crew of the vehicle runs into thetraffic accident or suffers the sudden illness, the prohibition ofoutputting the incoming ring is released and the ring volume is set to“high.” Thereby even if the prohibition of outputting the incoming ringis set in the memory 18 during the driving before the emergency stateoccurs, the crew can recognize the incoming ring. Namely the incomingring can be outputted from the ringer 51 at the maximum level of “high.”

[0050] (Second Embodiment)

[0051] In a second embodiment, the release of the prohibition ofoutputting the incoming ring, and the setting of the ring volume at themaximum level are executed remotely from the service center 100 throughthe phone line. Processing in the second embodiment will be explainedreferring to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0052] Processing in FIG. 6 is executed by the control circuit 17 whileprocessing in FIG. 7 is executed by the phone of the service center 100.

[0053] Firstly, the control circuit 17 executes each processing at Steps200 to 300 in FIG. 3. At Step 310 in FIG. 6, whether the emergency stateoccurs determined. The emergency state is determined based on spreadingof an airbag or manipulation of the emergency call switch 31. Thespreading of the airbag is determined based on an output signal from theairbag spreading detection circuit 15 when the airbag is spread by theairbag device 20 due to a collision accident. The emergency call switch31 is manipulated, for instance, when the crew that suffers the suddenillness wants an emergency call.

[0054] When the emergency state is determined, processing for calling inthe service center 100 based on a registered phone number stored in thememory 18 is executed at Step 340. A calling signal is therebytransmitted to the public service network 140 from the wireless circuit12 to the base station 130. When the calling signal is received at thephone of the service center 100 as an incoming signal, the phone of theservice center 100 determines that there is an incoming call at Step 400in FIG. 7. Simultaneously an off-hook signal is transmitted from thephone of the service center 100 to the public service network 140 toconnect through the phone line with the vehicle phone device 10.

[0055] At Step 410, the phone of the service center 100 transmits aring-off release command for remotely releasing the prohibition ofoutputting the incoming ring to the vehicle phone device 10 through thepublic service network 140 and the base station 130. In addition, atStep 420, the phone of the service center 100 transmits a ring-volumeincrease command for remotely increasing the ring volume to the maximumto the vehicle phone device 10 through the public service network 140and the base station 130.

[0056] Here, when the control circuit 17 of the vehicle phone device 10receives the ring-off release command through the wireless circuit 12for a predetermined period (determined at Step 372) after calling to theservice center 100 at Step 340, the ring-off release command isdetermined to be received at Step 370. The control circuit 17 thenreleases the prohibition of outputting the incoming ring, or setspermission of outputting the incoming ring in the memory 18 at Step 371.The control circuit 17 can thereby permit the outputting of the incomingring to the memory 18 by a remote operation of the service center 100.

[0057] Furthermore, when the control circuit 17 of the vehicle phonedevice 10 receives the ring-volume increase command through the wirelesscircuit 12 for a predetermined period (determined at Step 382), thering-volume increase command is determined to be received at Step 380.The control circuit 17 then sets the ring volume to the maximum in thememory 18 at Step 381. The control circuit 18 can thereby set the ringvolume to the maximum in the memory 18 by the remote operation of theservice center 100.

[0058] As a downlink communication signal from the service center 100 isreceived through the base station 130 and the public service network 140by the wireless circuit 12 in the vehicle phone device 10, a receivingvoice is outputted from the speaker 60 by the audio processing circuit11 based on the downlink communication signal. As a transmitting voiceis inputted through the microphone 60, an uplink communication signal istransmitted by the wireless circuit 12 to the service center 100 throughthe base station 130 and the public service network 140 based on thetransmitting voice. The above processing is executed in the vehiclephone device 10 and the service center 100 at Steps 350 and 430,respectively.

[0059] The crew can thereby have a hands-free call for the emergencycall with the operator of the service center 100. When the crewthereafter manipulates for stopping the call through the stop key of themanipulation switch 30, a call stop signal is transmitted from thewireless circuit 12 to the base station 130 and the phone line with theservice center 100 is shut off at Step 360. Simultaneously, the phone ofthe service center 100 terminates the call at Step 440.

[0060] When the control circuit 17 of the vehicle phone device 10receives no ring-off release command through the wireless circuit 12 forthe predetermined period (determined at Step 372) after calling to theservice center 100 at Step 340, the ring-off release command isdetermined to be not received at Step 370. The control circuit 17 then,with own determination of the control circuit 17, sets permission ofoutputting the incoming ring in the memory 18 at Step 371.

[0061] Furthermore, when the control circuit 17 of the vehicle phonedevice 10 receives no ring-volume increase command through the wirelesscircuit 12 for a predetermined period (determined at Step 382), thering-volume increase command is determined to be not received at Step380. The control circuit 17 then, with own determination of the controlcircuit 17, sets the ring volume to the maximum in the memory 18 at Step381.

[0062] As explained above, the prohibition of outputting the incomingring is released and the ring volume is set to the maximum, both ofwhich are executed by the remote operation from the phone of the servicecenter 100. Thereby even if the prohibition of outputting the incomingring is set in the memory 18 during the driving before the emergencystate occurs, the incoming ring can be outputted from the ringer 51 atthe maximum level of “high” without any manipulation of the crew nor anydetermination of the vehicle phone device 10. This structure enables thecrew to securely receive the incoming call when the emergency stateoccurs.

[0063] Furthermore, When the control circuit 17 of the vehicle phonedevice 10 receives no ring-off release command or no ring-volumeincrease command, the control circuit 17 then, with own determination ofthe control circuit 17, sets permission of outputting the incoming ringin the memory 18 or the ring volume to the maximum in the memory 18.Thereby even if the ring-off release command or the ring-volume increasecommand cannot be received due to poor communication condition and thelike, the crew can securely recognize to receive the incoming call.

[0064] (Modification)

[0065] The first and second embodiments can be modified below.

[0066] Although the setting of the ring volume to the maximum level isexecuted along with the release of the prohibition of the outputting theincoming ring, only the setting of the ring volume to the maximum levelcan be executed.

[0067] Although the ring volume is set to one of three levels of “low”“intermediate,” and “high”, any number of levels instead of the threelevels can be adopted if a plurality of the levels are adopted.

[0068] When the emergency state is determined, the ring volume is set tothe maximum level. However, the ring volume can be set to a certainlevel if the certain level of the ring volume can be sufficientlyrecognizable for the crew.

[0069] For instance, the ring volume can be set to four levels such as“extremely low,” “low,” “intermediate,” and “high.” Here, the“intermediate” is assumed to be sufficiently recognizable.

[0070] Here, if the ring volume is previously set to any one of“extremely low,” “low,” and “high” before the emergency state occurs,the ring volume can be set to “intermediate” when the emergency stateoccurs. In addition, if the ring volume is previously set to“intermediate” before the emergency state occurs, the ring volume cancontinue to be set to “intermediate” when the emergency state occurs.

[0071] Furthermore, when the ring volume can be set to four levels suchas “extremely low,” “low,” “intermediate,” and “high,” the ring volumecan be set to “high” only when the emergency state is determined.

[0072] The emergency state is determined based on the spreading signalindicating the spreading of the airbag by the airbag device 20 or theoutput from the emergency call switch 31. However, the followingcondition also can be used for the determination of the emergency state.Namely, it is a condition where previously registered phone number of anemergency call is inputted through the manipulation switch 30 (e.g.,numeral keys of “0” to “9”) and simultaneously the call start key ismanipulated for calling. Furthermore, the emergency state can bedetermined based on output of an accelerator sensor.

[0073] The prohibition of outputting the incoming ring is set throughmanipulating the ringer prohibition key. However, the control circuit 17itself can prohibit the outputting of the incoming ring by determiningwhether output from sensors or the like exceeds a predetermined level.For instance, whether a vehicle is during the driving is determinedbased on output from a vehicle speed sensor. When the vehicle isdetermined to be during the driving, the outputting of the incoming ringcan be prohibited.

[0074] The vehicle phone device 10 is explained as a phone having anemergency call function. However, if a phone has an emergency callfunction, the invention is directed to any phone such as a wired phone,a cell phone, a personal handy phone (PHS) or the like.

[0075] The service center 100 is explained as an emergency calladdressee. However, a security service provider, home of a crew, apolice, or a fire station can be an emergency call addressee.

[0076] In the second embodiment, as soon as it is determined that thereis an incoming call from the vehicle phone device 10 at Step 400 in FIG.7, the phone of the service center 100 transmits a ring-off releasecommand. However, in this situation, an operator of the service center100 can firstly communicate with the crew if possible. The operator canthen determine, based on a result (e.g., no reply, state of the crew)from communication with the vehicle or the crew, whether the ring-offrelease command should be transmitted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A phone provided with an emergency call functionthat calls to an emergency call addressee when an emergency stateoccurs, comprising: emergency determining means for determining whetherthe emergency state occurs; emergency calling means for calling to theemergency call addressee that is previously appointed when occurring ofthe emergency state is determined; first level setting means forsetting, to a certain volume level, a ring volume of an incoming ringthat is for notifying a user of an incoming call; and second levelsetting means for changing to set the ring volume from the certainvolume level to a given volume level that is louder than the certainvolume level when occurring of the emergency state is determined.
 2. Aphone provided with an emergency call function according to claim 1,further comprising: setting receiving means for receiving, from theemergency call addressee, a ring volume manipulation signal thatindicates setting manipulation when occurring of the emergency state isdetermined, wherein the second setting means changes to set the ringvolume from the certain volume level to the given volume level that islouder than the certain volume level, based on the ring volumemanipulation signal.
 3. A phone provided with an emergency call functionaccording to claim 2, further comprising: ring volume receptiondetermining means for determining whether the ring volume manipulationsignal is received from the emergency call addressee, wherein, whenoccurring of the emergency state is determined and the ring volumemanipulation signal is determined to be received, the second settingmeans changes to set the ring volume from the certain volume level tothe given volume level that is louder than the certain volume level. 4.A phone provided with an emergency call function according to claim 1,further comprising: ring prohibiting means for prohibiting output of theincoming ring; and ring permitting means for permitting release ofprohibiting of the output of the incoming ring when the occurring of theemergency state is determined while the output of the incoming ring isprohibited by the ring prohibiting means.
 5. A phone provided with anemergency call function according to claim 4, further comprising:permission receiving means for receiving, from the emergency calladdressee, a ring permission signal that indicates permitting the outputof the incoming ring when occurring of the emergency state is determinedwhile the output of the incoming ring is prohibited by the ringprohibiting means, wherein the ring permitting means permits the releaseof the prohibiting of the output of the incoming ring based on the ringpermission signal.
 6. A phone provided with an emergency call functionaccording to claim 5, further comprising: permission receptiondetermining means for determining whether the ring permission signal isreceived from the emergency call addressee, wherein the ring permittingmeans permits the release of the prohibiting of the output of theincoming ring when the emergency state is determined and the ringpermission signal is determined to be received.
 7. A phone provided withan emergency call function according to claim 1, wherein the emergencydetermining means determines that the emergency state occurs in at leastone of two cases, wherein a first case is that a vehicle in which thephone is provided runs into an accident, and wherein a second case isthat an emergency call switch provided in the vehicle is manipulated. 8.A phone provided with an emergency call function according to claim 7,wherein the first case is determined by detecting a spreading signal ofan airbag that is provided in the vehicle.
 9. A ring volume settingchange method provided in a phone having an emergency call function thatcalls to an emergency call addressee when an emergency state occurs,comprising steps of: setting, to a certain volume level, a ring volumeof an incoming ring that is for notifying a user of an incoming call;determining whether the emergency state occurs; calling to the emergencycall addressee that is previously appointed when occurring of theemergency state is determined; and changing to setting the ring volumefrom the certain volume level to a given volume level that is louderthan the certain volume level when occurring of the emergency state isdetermined.
 10. A ring volume setting change method according to claim9, further comprising a step of: receiving, from the emergency calladdressee, a ring volume manipulation signal that indicates the givenvolume level to be set when occurring of the emergency state isdetermined.
 11. A ring volume setting change method according to claim9, further comprising steps of: prohibiting the output of the incomingring before occurrence of the emergency state is determined; andpermitting release of prohibiting of the output of the incoming ringwhen occurring of the emergency state is determined while the output ofthe incoming ring is prohibited at least one of two conditions, whereina first condition is that a predetermined period elapses from theoccurring of the emergency state is determined and a second condition isthat a ring permission signal that indicates permitting the outputtingof the incoming ring is received from the emergency call addressee.